Self-sanitizing toilet seat

ABSTRACT

A toilet seat having a generally ring-like shape, with an upper surface, that comes into contact with the user&#39;s skin, defined between an external perimeter edge and an internal perimeter edge, the seat comprising, or being associated with, a plurality of spray nozzles for spraying sanitizing fluid over the upper surface. The seat has a passage arranged in such a manner as to have a fluid inlet opening along the external perimeter edge and an outlet opening along the internal perimeter edge, the inlet opening being shaped so as to collect any excess fluid flowing beyond the external edge, such that the excess fluid drains through the passage, out the outlet opening and into the toilet bowl.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of sanitizationand, more particularly, to toilets and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional self-cleaning type toilet seats, e.g., those having aring-like shape, are typically mounted at a fixed position on a toiletbowl and incorporate a selected number of spray nozzles. The nozzles areusually supported by a box-like structure on a rear portion of the seat.The nozzles typically moisten substantially the entire upper surface ofthe seat, i.e., the surface that contacts the user's skin. After fluidspraying has been completed, the same nozzles then provide a stream ofair to dry the seat.

Nozzle operation is controlled by a suitable electronic control systemthat utilizes sensors to determine when a use of the toilet has beenterminated and, consequently, trigger the seat cleaning process inpreparation for the next use.

The sanitizing fluid, which is usually stored in a tank or likereservoir, is sprayed onto the seat abundance, causing at least aportion of the fluid to drip from the seat edges, both inside andoutside the ring. While drippage from the internal perimeter of the seatedge is not considered a problem, since the sanitizing fluid flows intothe toilet bowl, dripping from the outer perimeter edge results in theentire external surface of the bowl being covered with fluid. This isbecause the external surface is not usually reachable by the drying airstream. Apart from creating the unpleasant impression of a lack ofcleanliness, the user's clothing is often stained when it brushesagainst the excess fluid on the external bowl surface, this beingundoubtedly annoying.

It has been also proposed to form a radial passage within the seat, inorder to convey the excess fluid directly from the outer perimeter ofthe seat into the toilet bowl, as shown for example in U.S. Pat. No.6,003,159, GB2275060 and GB1357249.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novelautomatically sanitized toilet seat having a configuration that not onlyprevents the sanitizing fluid from dripping onto the external surface ofthe toilet bowl, but is also simpler, less bulky and has a moreaesthetically pleasing shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and advantages of the automatically sanitizedtoilet seat, in accordance with the present inventions, will becomeapparent from the description set forth below of a specific,illustrative embodiment thereof, with reference to the followingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toilet assembly having aself-sanitizing seat, according to one aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a self-sanitizing toilet seat,according to one aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the seat illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines IV—IV of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the seat shown in FIG. 1.

The same numerals are used throughout the drawing figures to designatesimilar elements. Still other objects and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description of thepreferred embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and, more particularly, to FIGS. 1–5,there is shown generally a specific, illustrative self-sanitizing toiletseat 1, according to various aspects of the present invention. Accordingto one embodiment, shown generally in FIG. 1, the seat has aconventional ring-shaped structure with an upper surface 1 a, that willcome into contact with a user's skin, defined between an externalperimeter edge 1 b and an internal perimeter edge 1 c. The seat isarranged above a bowl 2 of confined water. Also like the conventionalarrangements, from the rear part of seat 1, i.e., that portion where thebackside of the user will come to be positioned, a box-like structure 3is located of which a front wall 3 a bears a plurality of nozzles 4, forexample three (3), for flushing the upper surface 1 a of the seat with asanitizing fluid and, thereafter, providing a stream of air so as to drythe surface again.

The box-like structure desirably houses water and air circuits that feedthe nozzles. A case 5 above the structure, and adjacent to aconventional tank containing toilet bowl-flushing water, houses anelectronic system for controlling operation of the nozzles in responseto a signal emitted by one or more selected sensor(s). Suitable sensors,as are well-known to those skilled in the art, are preferably capable ofdetecting the end of each individual use of the toilet and,consequently, activating a toilet sanitizing operation.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1–5, external edge 1 b and internal edge 1 c ofseat 1 are in communication with one another via a passage 6 formedwithin the seat. More specifically, passage 6 is preferably defined by atwo-part seat construction, the seat comprising a lower part 12 thatrests on toilet bowl 2 and an upper part 11 that overlies the lowerpart. The upper part is desirably located over and above the box-likestructure and includes upper surface 1 a with external perimeter edge 1b and internal perimeter edge 1 c.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the two parts of the seat are preferably joinedto one another and separated by U-shaped stirrups 7 extending downwardlyfrom upper part 11 and arranged at substantially equal distances aboutthe ring of the seat. The stirrups engage mounting screws (not shown)that pass through appropriate seatings 8 formed in lower part 12. Byseparating the upper and lower parts of the seat in this fashion,namely, using the stirrups, passage 6 is formed.

Turning now to FIG. 4, a lip 12 a is provided along the externalperimeter of the lower part, the lip being bent obliquely upward suchthat the resulting shape of the part corresponds to that of a basin.Similarly, on the upper part there is provided an external perimeter lip11 a bent obliquely downward and toward the seat interior. In thismanner, the lip projects into the basin defined by lower part 12, whilethe lower part remains a selected distance from lip 12 a, therebyforming an inlet opening of passage 6.

Along its internal perimeter, on the other hand, lower part 12 isprovided with a downwardly-pointing lip 12 b. Upper part 11 is, in turn,provided with an internal perimeter lip 11 b that extends verticallydownward and, in conjunction with internal perimeter lip 12 b, forms anoutlet opening of passage 6, which faces the inside of toilet bowl 2.

Accordingly, after each use of the toilet, the nozzles spray sanitizingfluid onto the upper surface of seat 1, the excess fluid flowing overexternal edge 1 b rather than dripping onto the outer surface of thetoilet bowl. The excess fluid is collected within passage 6 and thendrained away, into the inside of the bowl.

More specifically, as a result of surface adhesion, the fluid descendsalong external lip 11 a and, thereby, passes through the inlet openingof hollow space 6. After dripping from the edge of the external lip, thefluid is collected by lip 12 a and conveyed toward the internalperimeter of the seat, i.e., in the direction of the outlet opening ofthe passage. Upon passing through the opening, the fluid then falls intothe toilet bowl. In order to facilitate the discharge of fluid, it hasbeen found advantageous to slope the bottom of lower part 12 slightlydownward as it passes from external lip 12 a to internal lip 12 b.

This arrangement has been found beneficial for assuring that not onlythe outer surface of bowl 2 remains dry, but also the surrounding floor,thereby creating an impression of order and cleanliness that is pleasantto the user, and avoiding any possibility of the user's clothes becomingwet and/or soiled. In this manner, the seat according to various aspectsof the present invention, advantageously provides a highly efficientsolution to a rather annoying problem, and does so using a structure ofextraordinary simplicity.

Although the present invention has been shown and described using apassage that collects sanitizing fluid and conveys it from the externalperimeter of the seat to the internal perimeter, those skilled in theart will appreciate that arrangements may be utilized other than thetwo-part one set forth above, within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

The two-part seat construction of the present invention has, inaddition, been found advantageous for its simplicity, and itsadaptability for use with a heater or, more particularly, integration ofsuch heater with its upper part 11. For instance, a heater, in the formof electrical resistors (not shown), is provided for heating uppersurface 1 a of the seat to a temperature of about 30° C. This, in turn,causes any traces of humidity to evaporated that may have remained afterpassage of the air stream, the result being that users will be assuredof a perfectly dry seat upon each use.

The embodiments illustrated above involve application of the presentinvention to restrooms typically utilized for railway carriages.However, its application to any toilet facility is understood, givingconsideration to the purpose for which the present invention isintended. For instance, a self-sanitizing seat according to the presentinvention may be utilized generally in any public toilet facility inwhich problems may arise similar to those described above, within thespirit and scope of the present invention.

Various modifications and alterations to the invention may beappreciated based on a review of this disclosure. These changes andadditions are intended to be within the scope and spirit of theinvention as defined by the following claims.

1. A seat for a toilet bowl, the seat having a generally ring-shapedstructure with an upper surface for coming into contact with a user, thesurface being defined between an external perimeter edge and an internalperimeter edge, the seat comprising and being associated with amultiplicity of spray nozzles for moistening the upper surface with asanitizing fluid, the seat comprising a passage formed so as to providea fluid inlet opening along the external perimeter edge and a fluidoutlet opening along the internal perimeter edge, the inlet openingbeing shaped in such a manner as to collect excess fluid flowing overthe external edge, whereby the excess fluid is drained away and into thetoilet bowl through the passage, the passage being defined by an upperpart and a lower part connected to one another in a spaced manner, thelower part being provided with an external perimeter lip bent generallyobliquely upward, wherein the upper part is provided with acorresponding external perimeter lip bent generally obliquely in adownward and inward direction, and spaced from the lip on the lower partso as to form the inlet opening of the passage, whereby the excess fluidthat adheres to the surface of the external lip of the upper part entersthe passage, dropping the external lip of the lower part.
 2. The seatset forth in claim 1, wherein the outlet opening is formed by respectivelips provided along the internal perimeter of the upper part and thelower part, the lips projecting downwardly toward the inside of thebowl.
 3. The seat set forth in claim 1, wherein the bottom of the lowerpart slopes slightly downward as it passes from the external perimeterlip to the internal perimeter lip, thereby facilitating drainage offluid toward the inside of the bowl.
 4. The seat set forth in claim 1,wherein the lower part and the upper part are connected to one anotherin a spaced manner via a plurality of U-shaped stirrups arranged atsubstantially equal distances along the ring-like structure of the seat.5. The seat set forth in claim 1, further comprising a heater forwarming the upper surface so as to dry the same.